Oriental Warehouse

The Oriental Warehouse at 650 Delancey Street began its life in 1867 as the primary storage facility for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. It served as the terminal point for goods arriving from Asia, acting as a massive distribution hub for commodities like tea, rice, coffee, and silk. Because of its location near the docks, the building also functioned as an early processing station for immigrants arriving from China and Japan. This dual role as a commercial warehouse and a gateway for new arrivals continued until 1910, when the immigration operations were transferred to the newly opened station on Angel Island.